Noise with nothing connected?

So I have a noise problem in my 2010 double cab...I first noticed white noise coming from drivers side front speakers when it wasn't even connected to the amp or anything else. All I had done was run the wires from the crossover to the tweeter and midrange and from the crossover to where the amp was going to be located. Thought that was strange....I have the crossover mounted behind the driver side kick panel. The power wire is located in the general vicinity where the crossover is, could this be causing the problem? Or could it be noise coming from the cars electrical system entering the crossover since it is located next to the bundle of wires behind the kickpanel?

When I finished installing the amp, I noticed I was getting both the white noise and alternator whine but only from the drivers side front speaker. The only thing I can conclude to is noise somehow entering through the crossover. Could this happen? What steps can I take to remedy this?

I think the alternator noise is prolly due to a bad ground, i'll try and track that down. But for the white noise, i'm dumbfounded...

Components installed:

Kenwood DDX514
Front - Alpine Type R 6.5" Components
Rear - Alpine Type R 6.5" Coaxials
RE Audio RE Series 12" sub (box not finished though)
Soundstream Ref405 Amplifier
4ga wire for power and ground
16ga Monster Cable speaker Wire
Rockford Fosgate shielded RCA's

Front speakers run off the amplifier (channels 1+2 bridged and 3+4 bridged) and the rear speakers are run off the head unit.

 

I've been battling this same problem for over a month now!

I bought a complete set up from Mr. Marv, and followed his install instructions to the T.

Eclipse deck (already had)
Hybrid technology Components
Arc Audio Sub and Amp
Mr. Marv enclosure and amp rack

Even with the RCA's from the headunit disconnected from the amp - the noise is still present in both tweeters.

I'm going to bypass the speaker wiring that I ran, and just pop the door panel back off, and get some wire straight from there to the crossover and see if the noise goes away. Maybe somewhere in the new wiring I ran to the doors got pinched or sliced somehow and is grounding out a little.

-Eric

 

I would check the RCA's since they are the ones that send the single to your speakers from the amp. Is your headunit grounded? My g/f has a 03 Accord and has a factory HU with two LOC running to a 5 channel amp and its annoying IMO with white noise. It sounds like this: http://www.simplynoise.com/ ???

 

How long is the ground wire on your amp? Also, what's it grounded to? I had a similar problem in an install that was done for me a few years ago. My fix that time was finding a better grounding location and shortening the ground wire to less than 4 feet.

 

My ground wire is less than 1 ft. and its grounded to the front inner seat bolt mount. I sanded it and attached the wire to it.

I think you guys are missing the fact that NOTHING but the speaker wire is hooked up to the crossover and there is noise even with no power present. I didn't think that could happen, but its happening to me.

Hopefully someone can chime in as to what exactly is happening and what the remedy could be. I'm open to all suggestions....

 

I just need to be perfectly clear here so I can assist you properly.

Are you stating you physically have the two wires feeding the crossover input disconnected at the AMP for the front left channel (drivers side)?

And you hear white noise and a whine as well.

If so my first question:
1. Are your speaker wires between the Amp and crossover running with (very close proximity) the main power wires to your Amp? If so you may need to move those wires to another location.

Now things to try:
1. Open up the drivers side kick panel and move the crossover a few inches from it's current location. If there is a problem with RF energy and the crossover, you will find it this way.
2. Like you said before, open the door panel up and check your wiring and hook up directly to the tweeter just to test it out.
3. Verify the crossover is connected properly at both the speaker connection points and at the crossover. The woofer could introduct electrical power into the tweeter if it's vibrating but I think I'm grasping at straws here.

Just to ask a stu[id question, the crosspover is a passive one, correct? Can you give the exact modle of Alpine speakers you have and if you know the model of the crossover that wouldn't hurt.

It doesn't sound like you have a ground issue with your Amp, also since it's not even physically connected to the speaker wire.

What I don't understand is how in the world you could get white noise if the the amp or some power source was not directly connected to the crossover or speaker.

Give us a shout back and if you found some information you gave us was incorrect, just let us know so we can give you the best advice we can. I know I'd hate listening to alternator whine, which by the way is normally due to a ground issue but since the amp isn't connected at all...

-Joe

 

Joe, Yes. I physically have the two wires from the crossover to the tweeter and mid in the door. There was no wire from the crossover to the amplifier when I heard the white noise. I wanted to finish up the system so I connected everything else and thats when I started to hear the alternator whine. I'm pretty sure I can solve the alternator whine, just need help with the white noise.

So, to answer your questions:

1. The speaker wire near the kick panel is about 3in away from the power wire, only in that portion. Everywhere else, the wire is far away from the power wires.
2. Yes, the crossover is passive
3. The model # for the components is the SPR-17S, don't know the crossover model no.

As for your suggestions, I will try it out tomorrow when I have some time. I really hope all this is because the crossover is in close proximity of the power wire...Thanks for your suggestions. I will reply when I've checked everything again, which will be by monday or wednesday.

Thanks again!

 

One more question... Do you hear the white noise when the ignition is turned on, engine running, not running, ignition off, in assessory mode, key in your pocket? I'm just looking for ways to identify a problem. Anything you can think of would be helpful.

 

Ive had the same problem with my line out converters. what I did was turn it on so the noise is present and moved the loc untilI found where the interference was coming from. I would say do the same. get the speakers making the noise and physically move the crossover around to see if the sound changes. also you could try that with rcas if they aqre even hooked up.

also sirsaechao your girlfriends car may have noise cancelling frequency playing all the time thru the factory radio. honda did this on some models that had bad noise so i guess it is cheaper to have a cancelling frequency playing rather than fix the problem. I have seen this in the past and now acura is actually advertising it.

 

SO what do you suggest for her car? New deck and step away from the crap LOC and factory HU.

 

I self-installed a system in a previous car of mine, (not really knowing what i was doing) and ran the power wire, along with the wires for the crossover through my center console, and all the way back to the trunk and noticed a "whining" sound as i accelerated with the system on, but not playing anything.

A buddy of mine said it was probably because i had ran the power wire so close to the speaker wire, and there was RF feedback running to the speakers causing the whine... not sure how correct he was of this, just my .02 though. Hope you figure out whats causing that.

 

I can hear the noise with the accessory, ignition on w/engine not running and running. When the key is not in the ignition, I don't hear anything at all.

Its gotta be cause the crossover is close to all those wires. I didn't have a chance to take a look yet, but i'll do it soon and report back.

Thanks Guys!

 

sirsaechao, a new hu is the only way I know to fix it. sorry about the thread jack.

 

If what Supersuk states is true, the HU has no bearing on the problem. He is stating that the crossovers are ONLY connected to the speakers, they are NOT connected to the amp. If that is true then the HU has no effect.

If you find out the crossover is in fact picking up electrical signals in the wiring, if you don't want to move it you could try shielding it. A couple wraps of aluminum foil and a wire to your chassis should fix it, but I'd move it if you could.

-Joe

 

mine and the OP is totally different.

 

Update: The crossover is picking up noise from the wires located in the kick panel. I guess i'll have to relocate the crossovers to a different location...although, I'm gonna try the idea of wrapping it in foil attached to a ground wire first.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

i'm gonna vote Ghosts.

 

I'd like to know if that works for you. Just don't block any vents if there are any on that crossover. You could use any metal but two wraps of heavy aluminum foil should work wonders but it must be grounded.

-Joe